Prisons week runs from Sunday 8th October to Saturday 14th For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, […]

When we began to think about our house move, one of the things that Tracey said that she was going to miss was the island in the kitchen (you may have seen it in various EBA videos such as this one). The kitchen in our new manse is considerably smaller and so Tracey began to […]

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.’ (Ecclesiastes 3:1) We live in an ever-changing world.  We don’t have to look back too far in history to find the generation who would not have heard of every day words such as ‘Google’, ‘iPad’, ‘Wi-Fi’, ‘TikTok’, ‘influencers’ – the list […]

I recently came across this picture while creating some publicity.  Something about it struck me and the question ‘where is your focus?’ came to me. ’A photo of people in a room would usually focus on the people, but here the photographer has chosen to focus on the light. The people are still present and […]

Like many Minister’s during training, I attended “Preaching Class.”  One lesson I learnt from our tutor was “if you hear a good story, nick it!”  The other evening I heard a good story and, following my tutors advice, I have nicked it.  The story goes like this; There is a painting by the 19th Century […]

‘Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.’ (Jesus in Matthew 7: 7-8, from the NRSV Updated Edition 2021) This summer […]

Do you ever feel overwhelmed?  I do. -Our news feeds whether TV, radio, newspapers, social media are excessively imbalanced by bad news. -No one has ever warned me about the impact, stress and trauma of caring for elderly parents -I live and work (by choice and calling) in a challenging place -My children are grown […]

I have recently been reading ‘Bibles in Barrels’ a book written by Doris Witard telling the early days of the Baptist story in Essex. One chapter recounts the formation of what would become the Essex Baptist Association… “On the 20th September, 1796, the ministers and messengers of eight Essex churches gathered at Braintree, where the […]

For me, August is a month when the diary, inbox and phone messages go strangely quiet (this is not a challenge for you to try and change that!). It is still the traditional holiday month when we take time away from normal activities before we enter ‘the silly season’: September through to Christmas. Many churches […]

Recently, I was complaining to God! Is it just me that does this? Everything had all been going so well. In trying to be obedient to God’s call, I had navigated the baptist settlement system in just over 2 months (now that’s a miracle!) I was able to arrange with the church who have called […]